My kitchen / dinning area is higher than living room (apartment, rental)

[spiritkey]

Such as the picture shown. Will it be difficult to level the floor as living room? Thanks!

[bluedog2]

Yes,probably fairly expensive and if a rental you'd likely have to restore it( rip it all out) when vacating .

Why bother ?

[spiritkey]

I'm looking to buy this unit and live there for two years, and then rent it out.
It's a tight space, and the uneven floor make the space look smaller.

Originally Posted by bluedog2

Yes,probably fairly expensive and if a rental you'd likely have to restore it( rip it all out) when vacating .

Why bother ?

[bellakin123]

Is this a condo or co-op that requires you to go through them before doing any re-modeling? I do agree though-it does make it seem smaller but also, it also seems to take space away. You can't expand a table or chairs due to the step. I'd be afraid of people tripping or falling.

[spiritkey]

That was my concern as well.

It's a coop, I'm waiting to heard back from the agent about the re-modeling. No sure how much it will cost me, if it will be over 20K, I would like to use it to negotiating the price too.

Originally Posted by bellakin123

Is this a condo or co-op that requires you to go through them before doing any re-modeling? I do agree though-it does make it seem smaller but also, it also seems to take space away. You can't expand a table or chairs due to the step. I'd be afraid of people tripping or falling.

[livingsinglenyc]

I have a little step like that in my apt. as well. Why was this done? I know its sort of common in older apts.

[Pitt Chick]

Originally Posted by spiritkey

That was my concern as well.

It's a coop, I'm waiting to heard back from the agent about the re-modeling. No sure how much it will cost me, if it will be over 20K, I would like to use it to negotiating the price too.

You won't get far with that.
No one will factor in your personal remodeling preferences in the selling price.

[bmwguydc]

You need to know what is under the step before considering remodeling. You may have pipes for plumbing, heating, electrical wiring, etc.

Also, you have to ask the co-op for permission regarding the remodel. Investigate before purchase if you must remove the step because if the board decides against allowing the remodel, you have to live with it as is.

[bluedog2]

Originally Posted by livingsinglenyc

I have a little step like that in my apt. as well. Why was this done? I know its sort of common in older apts.

Do you have a step up like this ? The configuration in this place is weird,almost backwards.Lots of older(particularly Deco) buildings have sunken(step down) living rooms but they usually have a few steps and wrought iron railings.In this case it appears that kitchen and dining area are a step up . Very strange.

Would be interested to know what's behind the wall just outside the kitchen entrance.It looks like the place has been chopped up and maybe the platform kitchen/dining area is designed to hide something.The floorboards running in opposite directions seems weird too.Definitely some kind of a chop up I think.

I'd be very hesitant to consider purchasing any apartment where the original architectural integrity has been compromised so drastically.

[livingsinglenyc]

By my window (below the windows is the heater) I have a step up. Its in between a wall to the kitchen and my bathroom wall. Wonder if its something to do with pipes/heater?